8vo - 20.5 x 14 cm.; xxvi - 404 - [10] pp. Blue cloth with gilt lettering on spine and gilt facsimile signature on the front board. Mapped front end papers showing the original 14 convents (12 in Ireland and 2 in the UK) established by C. McAuley from 1831 to 1841. Dublin born and bred, Catherine turned her back on the social life of the times and began serving the poor of the city eventually founding the Order of Sisters of Mercy in 1831. Contents include a brief biography of Catherine, notes on the Circular and Institute Foundations, the letters themselves, notes on the spirit of the Institute, the Act of Consecration to Mother Catherine and charts delineating the Foundations' history, benefactors, superiors, associated clergy and chaplains concluding with a geneaological chart describing the 'mother-daughter' relationships between the varuious convents. The book was commissioned by Mother Mary Regina Cunningham, the Mother General of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of the Union in America located in Bethesda, Maryland. Previous owner's name and labels on the front free end paper, half title page, and the back free end paper. The bottom fore edge corners are bumped and the text block head edge is dust soiled. Else, clean and tight. The dust jacket is worn on the folds and edges with some chipping at the spine crown/heel with the previous owner's label on the front panel.

Catholic, Religious Orders, Nuns, Ireland, Sisters Of Mercy, Dublin, Tullamore, Galway, Birrindudu, Limerick, Charleville, Cork, Wexford, Carlow, Naas, Booterstown, Dun Laoghaire Birmingham London - Bermondsey